Some obstacles that could affect the production and decision making involved in those relationships might include the following: – Out-of-sequence work – Crew morale – Availability of equipment and materials – Weather – Manpower PREPARATION Don’t confine your preparation for an inspection to correcting and improving the appearance of those items to be inspected. Get yourself and your people into an inspection mode or state of mind. Inspections are frequently viewed with an “us against them” attitude by those being inspected and a “we are here to help you” attitude by the inspectors. Inspections are often a source of conflict between line, and staff personnel. Since staff units normally carry out inspections, line personnel often feel persecuted. You should impress upon your subordinates that periodic inspections are required for continuous superior appraisal of the command’s ability. Inspection teams are made up of highly qualified, knowledgeable individuals. Their purpose is not to disrupt your mission but to enhance your ability to accomplish the mission. Competition between commands and even among departments and divisions is good and should be encouraged. The desire to prove through inspection results, unit award competition, and so forth, that “we are the best” may lead to a temptation to “improve the odds” by acquiring those objects that are subject to inspection just before, and returning them just after, the inspection. A check showing the unit has passed the inspection in that area does not accurately reflect the true condition in which it operates. The  best  preparation  you  can  make  for  any inspection is to maintain consistent day-to-day excellence in material upkeep, administrative procedures, record keeping, and training. A significant portion of the final inspection results will depend on your preparation. A preliminary review of the following will guide you in planning and supervising preparations for inspections: Reference material Checkoff lists Previous inspection results Other recently inspected units REFERENCE MATERIAL The first step in preparing for an inspection is to determine what your unit is being inspected for so that you can focus your attention in that area. Next review the recommended references to ensure you are in compliance with the inspection group procedures. Always confirm that your instructions, directives, and publications are the most recent editions. CHECKOFF LISTS For any given inspection, the inspectors will have an  inspection  checklist.  This  checklist  is  readily available to you before the inspection; it describes how and what items are to be inspected. This checklist is an invaluable tool in your preparation as it lists the key features of the area to be inspected. Usually the checkoff list references the source document for each inspection item. You should provide applicable sections of the checkoff list to the personnel responsible for presenting a portion of the area to be inspected. PREVIOUS INSPECTION RESULTS You should have in your files the results of previous inspections. By referring to them, you can readily identify problem areas and judge whether those deficiencies have been corrected to meet the current standards. Use caution when referring to previous results because the standards may have changed since the last inspection. Because an item was satisfactory during your last inspection does not mean it still meets the inspection criteria. OTHER RECENTLY INSPECTED UNITS Chiefs from other units or from your squadron staff  may  have  undergone  the  same  type  of inspection your unit will undergo. These chiefs can provide you with insight into how the inspection team  conducts  the  inspection  and  what  specific areas they examine. 7-6